Dynamo-mounting.



W. l. THOMSON.

DYNAMO MOUNTING.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5. I9|3 1,162,196. Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES. INVENTOR W. I. THOMSON.

DYNAMO MOUNTING.

APPLICATION HLEU IULY 5. i913 1 ,162,1 96. Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2 WITNESSES. INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM I. THOMSON, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB TO SAFETY CAR HEATING 8: LIGHTING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

DYNAMIC-MOUNTING.

Application filed July 5, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM I. THOMSON, citizen of the United States, residin at Newark, in the county of Essex and state of New Jersey, have invented. certain new and useful Improvements in Dynamo Mountings. of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap; pertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in the mounting of electrical machinery, and with respect to some of its more specific features, to the mounting of dynamoelectric apparatus adapted to be mechanically connected with the axle of a railway car.

Among the more prominent objects of the present invention are,first, the provision of a safe, durable, compact and easily accessible mounting of low first cost and reliable action; second, to provide a mounting in which the wear is chiefly confined to in expensive members readily inspected, adjusted and replaced; third, to provide a mounting having ample clearance both above and below; fourth, to provide a mounting of the above type in which the tension of the driving belt is not affected by variations in the length of the belt.

Other objects will he in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the drawings, in which is illustrated one of the various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention, Figure 1 is a horizontal section along the line 11, Fig. 3. of part of a steel car truck with a dynamo mounted thereon in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal elevation partly in section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is an end elevation, partly in section as indicated by the line 3 3, Fig. 1, of the same.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

As tending to render more readily understood certain features of this invention, it

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

Serial No. 777,428.

may here be noted that the term dynamo" is used throughout this specification and following claims in what is believed to be its accurate technical meaning, namely, as designating a piece of electrical machinery which is employed either to generate electric current or to transform the same into electrical energy. In the present instance, the illustration relates more particularly to a machine for generating electric current.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated at 1 a portion of a steel car truck of any suitable or approved construction provided with the necessary mechanism for securing thereto the axle 2 carrying the wheels 3 adapted to run on the rails 4. The rotation of the wheels 3 on the rails 4 is utilized to drive the dynamo as by a pulley 6 on the axle 2, a pulley 7 on the dynamo shaft 8 and the inter-connecting belt 9. A belt drive is illustrated, because it has been found satisfactory in actual service, although it will be obvious that many features of the present invention would be equally applicable to dynamos provided with other forms of power-transmitting mechanism. The electrical power generated by the dyna Inn is conducted as by the wires 10 to suitable regulating devices, and thence to translating devices located preferably on or in the car.

Coming now to the embodiment of the mounting illustrated in the drawings, the dynamo 5 is provided with lugs 11 at its opposite ends engaging the transverse rods 12, whereby the dynamo is supported at four points and is adapted to be moved along the rods 12, and by the adjustable collars 13 and the set screws 14 to be secured in any desired position on said rods. This adjust ment of the dynamo at right angles to the track enables the driven pulley T to be brought opposite the driving pulley 6. The transverse rods 12 are connected together and supported at points adjacent their ends by means of horizontal bars 15, terminating at their ends farthest from the axle 2 in extensions 16, the purpose of which will appear later on. As a means of securing the transverse rods 12 to the bars ifi, there are illustrated in Fig. l, washers 17 on the rods 1:? and suitable lock nuts 18 on the outer ends it) of the rods. This provides a secure and yet easily removable means for retaining the transverse rods 1:? on the bars 15. It

is to be noted that the elements so far do scribed, that is, the dynamo, transverse rods 2, and the horizontal bars 15, are in service rigidly connected together and form a. single solid frame without any hearings or other interconnecting parts subject to wear. livotally secured to the bars 15 at the points 29 substantially opposite the center of gravity of the dynamo and midway between the connections of said lBflIS withv the transverse rods 1:2 are the hell-crank levers each com prising a vertical arm 21 and a-horiaontal or depending arm The ftilt'llllliS of the levers at 523 comprise shafts 24: journaled in a bifurcated portion of the levers and journaled also in the plates 25 adapted to slide. for adjustment longitudinally of the truck. on the upper surfaces of the main suspension bars 26 extending outwardly from the truclcframe I.

The plates 25 are guided in their sliding movement by the guide plates 27. bolted or riveted on either side of each suspension bar 26 as indicated clearly in Fig. 3. The adjustment of the sliding plates 2.) together or independently of each other is made by means of screw-threaded rods 28 passing through perforations in the brackets on the main suspension bars 26. and the sliding plates 25 are locked in their adjusted posi tion by means of the lock nuts 30 on the screw-threaded rods 28 and the bolt and slot connections between the guide plates 27. The horizontal arms 2'2 of the bell-crank levers are engaged at their outer ends by the tension springs 31 extending downwardly lengthwise of the truck and adjustably se cured at their lower ends as by the screwthreaded books 32 and lock nuts 33 to the brackets 34 fixed on or integral with the transverse angle bar which in the present instance is secured to the depending outer ends 36 of the main suspension bars 26. The function of these springs, as will be clear from Fig. 2. is to place the belt under tension. it is preferred that the lever arms '21 of the bell-crank levers be vertical so that the vertical shocks to the truck will have no effect on the belt tension; but when a new belt is applied. it is preferably so adjusted that the arms 21 will incline downwardly toward the left (Fig. 2). since a new belt stretches considerably when first put into service. During this time the belt tension is equal to the effect of the springs 31 plus a component of the weight of the dynamo, but soon the belt has stretched enough so that the arms 21 are vertical. and in this normal condition of operation the belt tension, due now to the springs alone. is practically the same as before, due to the increased moment arm 37 of the springs. Then as the belt lengthens in service. the arms 21 naturally incline downwardly to the right (Fig. 2 so that the belt tension becomes equal to :1

component of the weight of the dynamo subtracted from the efi'ect of the springs 31, but the parts are so designed that as the dynamo swings to the right. the moment arms 37 of the springs 31 increase as the springs shorten and the effect of the weight of the dynamo on the belt tension increas s. in such a way as to make the difference between these two forces (equal to the belt tension) at constant quantity. In practice, however. as soon as the vertical lever arms 21 assume a position noticeably out of the perpendicular. the vertical shocks to the truck would have a deleterious effect on the belt tension and a readjustment of the length of the belt would be made. in order to restore the lever arms 21 to their normal vertical position.

In order that the lever arms 21 may at all times be parallel to each other and incapable of independent pivotal movement about their respective fulcrums. they are seoured together at points 338 remote from the fulcrums by means of the rigid pipe or bar 39. This pipe. by keeping the lever arms :3 always in a plane prevents any instantaneous or continuous inequality in the action of the springs 31. or any other disturbing feature. from twisting the dynamo shaft 9 out of parallelism with the car axle 2. which might well cause the belt 9 to run off one or the other of the pulleys 6. 7.

With the structure described thus fa r. the springs 31. aided, or opposed at times by a component of the weight of the dynamo. tend to swing the lever arms 21 counterclockwise (Fig. 2l and thereby to place a proper and constant tension on the belt 9. Now in order that the dynamo may retain a substantially horizontal position. the extensions it) of the longitudinal bars 15 are caused to slide in perforations 4-0 in members 41 depending from the transverse bar 35 which in turn is carried. as above set forth. by the main suspension bars 26. As will be obvious from Fig. 2. any rotation of the lever arms 21 through a small angle either Way from the vertical will give to the dynamo a movement so close to pure translation that the tension of the driving belt is for all practical purposes wholly independent of the direction of drive. as well as insuring for the. apparatus the other advantages of a non-rotative movement of the dynamo. The wear, it will be noted. may be confined principally to the easily accessible bearings 23. 20. at the upper and lower ends of the vertical lever arms 21. These bearings may be made of ample size without interfering with any parts of the apparatus and they may be greased and protected with felt washers in order to reduce the Wear to an almost negligible quantity. hen re placement of the worn elements becomes nec essary, it is a simple and inexpensive matter to take out the worn bell-crank levers and insert others without disturbing in any way the adjustment of the dynamo.

Straps 42 are each bolted to the end sill 43 of the truck 1 and to the transverse bar 35. The straps pass under opposite end portions of the dynamo in such a way as to support the dynamo, and rods 12 as well if need be, in case any part of the swinging suspension should break. The value of this safeguard, in keeping the dynamo from falling upon the track with possibly disastrous results, need only be mentioned to be appreciated.

The operation of the illustrated embodiment of the invention is as follows :The dynamo is first moved ,along the parallel transverse rods 12. until the driven pulley 7 is opposite the driving pulley 6 on the car axle, when the collars 13 and set screws 14 are tightened. Then the plane of the lever arms 21 is made parallel to the car axle 2 by adjustments of the screw-threaded rods 28. After putting on the belt 9, attaching the springs 31 to the screw-threaded books 32 and tightening the springs equally by means of the lock nuts 33, if the lever arms 21 are not vertical they are made substantially so by a readjustment of the sliding plates 25 at 28, or preferably by shortening or lengthening the belt, the final position of the arms 21 depending upon the age and condition of the belt, as explained above. When the above adjustments have been completed the dynamo is ready for service. During the operation of the apparatus any lengthening of the belt, with the resulting tendency of the dynamo to decrease the belt tension, is offset by an equal and opposite variation in the effect of the springs 31 on the belt tension, as previously explained. When, 'however, the lever arms 21 make a sufficient angle to the vertical, the vertical shocks to the truck affect the belt tension and readjustment of the length of the belt is made to restore the vertical position of the lever arms. As none of the mechanism in the central portion of the mounting extends materially above or below the dynamo, there is provided amaximum head-room for the deep center sills now used in steel car construction, without sacrificing the necessary clearance between the apparatus and the ground.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof. it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrat ve and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A dynamo mounting comprising, in combination, a rotating element, a frame on which said element is mounted, a dynamo adapted to be driven from said element, means for mounting said dynamo for swing ing movement on said frame, and guidin means adapted to prevent the rotation 0 said dynamo.

2. A dynamo mounting comprising, in combination, a frame, a dynamo, means for mounting said dynamo for. swinging movement on said frame, and guiding means adapted to eliminate the rotative component of the swinging movement of the dynamo.

3. In apparatus of the character set forth, a frame, a dynamo, and means for mounting said dynamo on said frame, said means comprising depending arms secured to said frame, horizontal longitudinal rods pivotally secured to said arms, and means for supporting said dynamo on said rods.

4. In apparatus of the character set forth, a frame, a dynamo, and means for mounting said dynamo on said frame, said means comprising depending arms secured to said frame, a horizontal rod pivotally secured respectively to each of said arms and extending transversely to the direction of the axis of said dynamo, and means for sup- 10., porting said dynamo on said rods.

5. In apparatus of the character set forth,

a frame, a dynamo, and means for mounting. said dynamo on said frame, said means comprising depending arms secured to said 105 frame, a horizontal lon 'tudinal rod ivotally secured respective? to each 0 said arms, and means for supporting said dy namo on said rods with the center of gravity of the dynamo approximately opposite the 110 points of support of the rods.

6. In apparatus of the character set forth,

a frame, a dynamo, and means for mounting said dynamo on said frame, said means comprising swinging arms secured to said 115 frame, a horizontal longitudinal rod pivotally secured to each of saidarms, and transverse rods connected to said longitudinal rods and adjustably connected to said dynamo whereby the dynamo is supported from said arms.

7. In apparatus of the character set forth, a frame, a dynamo, means for mounting said dynamo on said frame, said means comprising depending arms secured to said frame, a horizontal longitudinal rod pivotally secured to each of said arms, transverse rods connected to said longitudinal rods and adjustably connected to said dynamo whereby said dynamo is supported from said arms, and

means adapted to prevent the rotation of the dynamo.

8. In apparatus of the character set forth. a frame, a dynamo, depending arms secured to said frame, a horizontal longitudinal rod pivotally secured to each of said arms, and transverse rods connected to said dynamo and to said longitudinal rods whereby said dynamo is supported from said arms.

9. In apparatus of the character set forth, a frame, a dynamo, depending arms secured to said frame, a horizontal longitudinal rod pivotally secured to each of said arms, and transverse rods connected to said dynamo and to said longitudinal rods whereby said dynamo is supported from said arms with the center of gravity of the dynamo approximately opposite the points of support of the longitudinal rods.

10. In a dynamo mounting, in combination, a truck, an axle, a dynamo, swinging arms secured to said truck, means for supporting the dynamo from said arms, and means adapted to prevent the rotation of the dynamo, said means comprisin rods pivoted to said arms and adapted to s ide in a rela' tively fixed portion of the mounting.

11. In a dynamo, in combination, a truck, an axle, a dynamo, swin 'ng arms secured to said truck on either side of said dynamo, means adapted to prevent the independent oscillation of said arms, means for supporting the dynamo from said arms, and means adapted to prevent the rotation of the dynamo, said means comprising rods pivoted to said arms and adapted to slide in a relatively fixed portion of the mounting.

In testimony whereofI afiix my signature, in the presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM I. THOMSON.

Witnesses:

ELMER E. ALLBEE, C. J. KULBERG.

Correction in Letters Patent No.1,162,196.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,162,196, granted November 30, 1915, upon the application of William 1. Thomson, of Newark, New Jersey,

for an improvement in Dynamo-Miiuntings, an error appears in the printed specification requiring eorreetion as follows: Page 4, line 28, claim 11, after the word dynamo insert the word nwmiti'ng; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Ofliee.

Signed and sealed this 11th day of January, A. D., 1916.

[SEAL] J. T. NEWTON,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 1 Cl. .u5238. 

